OLPC founder, Negroponte, has a few words for Intel on low-cost laptops

Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the "One Laptop Per
Child" initiative, accused chip maker Intel of undermining the OLPC by
selling its own cut-price laptop, the Classmate.
Negroponte claims that Intel is trying to drive him out of the market.

According to BBC, Negroponte said that Intel hurt his mission
in trying to distribute laptops to kids in developing countries
"enormously". Intel's chairman, Craig Barrett, has denied all
claims of undercutting Negroponte's mission, stating, "We're not trying to
drive [him] out of business. We're trying to bring capability to young people."

Though the hardware specifications differ between Intel’s low-cost laptops and
Negroponte's, OLPC founder believes that the main problem is that his machines
use AMD processors, Intel's main competitor. "Intel and AMD fight
viciously," he told CBS. "We're just sort of caught in the
middle."

Professor Negroponte also claimed that Intel has distributed marketing
literature to governments entailing negative aspects of the One Laptop Per
Child and outlining superior aspects of the Classmate. Some of the
literature had titles such as "the shortcomings of the One Laptop per
Child approach". Intel responded by saying that it was just making
comparisons between the Classmate PC and the other device in the market.

Countries have until May 31 to place their orders for the first round of
PCs. The launch
price will be $175 but the goal is to get them down to $100 each.
Intel is taking orders for the Classmate for over $200 each.

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